Spray head for aerosol can

ABSTRACT

A spray head for an aerosol can having a depressible valve stem includes a delivery tube, a cap, and nozzle means. The nozzle means comprises an extending nozzle concentric to and communicating with a short tube or protrusion. The nozzle is disposed within the delivery tube so as to space the nozzle orifice from one end of the delivery tube. The protrusion projects from the other and opposite end of the delivery tube. The cap has bore means that is adapted to seat on the valve stem and detachably receive and communicate with the protrusion whereby operation of the spray head dispenses substantially all of the aerosol mixture beyond the delivery tube end to reduce aerosol deposition on the inside surface of the delivery tube. In the preferred embodiment, the delivery tube is provided with pressure relief means to vent potentially harmful excess pressurization therein to the atmosphere.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,913,842

Singer Oct. 21, 1975 SPRAY HEAD FOR AEROSOL CAN Primary Examiner-John J.Love Inventor: Arnold J. g South g Attorney, Agent, 07' Firm-Ostrolenk,Faber, Gerb &

NHL Soffen [73] Assi nee: Block Dru Com an lnc., Jerse g City, N]. g p yy [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 14 1973 A spray head for an aerosol canhaving a depressible Appl. No.: 424,750

valve stem includes a delivery tube, a cap, and nozzle means. The nozzlemeans comprises an extending nozzle concentric to and communicating witha short tube or protrusion. The nozzle is disposed within the deliverytube so as to space the nozzle orifice from one end of the deliverytube. The protrusion projects from the other and opposite end of thedelivery tube. The cap has bore means that is adapted to seat on thevalve stem and detachably receive and communicate with the protrusionwhereby operation of the spray head dispenses substantially all of theaerosol mixture beyond the delivery tube end to reduce aerosoldeposition on the inside surface of the delivery tube. In the preferredembodiment, the delivery tube is provided with pressure relief means tovent potentially harmful excess pressurization therein to theatmosphere.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 3,913,842

1 SPRAY HEAD FOR AEROSOL CAN.

This invention relates to an aerosol dispenser spray head. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a spray head or nozzleapparatus adapted to guide aerosol propelled medicaments into variousbody openings, for example the ear canal. v

Pressurized apparatus for dispensing atomized particles are well knownin the art. The particles so dispensed might comprise atomized dropletsof liquids or powders which are ejected through a nozzle orifice ondemand. Further, it is known to provide dispensing means that isoperable to cause the aerosol nozzle to supply a measured or meteredamount of spray in aerosol form. Delivery means are presently availableto somewhat confine the spray-front of the propelled mixture. Thedelivery means normally comprises a tubular member. With thisconstruction, the delivery tube is positioned in or on the aerosol capso that one end of the tube contains a nozzle orifice. The orificecommunicates through a valve to the fluid or medicament under pressure.The opposite end of the delivery tube is open for dischargingthepropelled mixture. Thus, with spray heads heretofore, the delivery tubespaces the discharge opening a'considerable distance from the nozzleorifice. As the medicament-is propelled through the nozzle orifice andexits thereat', a spray front proceeds towards the delivery tube openend. -As the spray front travels, it diverges causing alarge portion ofthe propelled'mixture' 'to impinge against the delivery tube interiorsurface where it coalesces into large drops and remains unavailable forapplication on the desired body portion. Then too, it will beappreciated that the medicament in the aerosol container will be at somemultiple of atmosphericpressure. With this condition, a potentiallydangerous situation arises in the event that, the valve sticks orsomehow admits more than a desired or premeasured amount of combinedpropelling fluid and medicament. If the spray head is inserted in theear canal and the valve sticks, the sentitive parts of .the ear will beexposed to a pressure which might cause permanent injury.

Accordingly, the present invention overcomes the problems in the priorart by providing means to guide the resulting spray. The inventive meanswill confine the spray within the delivery apparatus to reduce theprobability of contact with the interior surface of the delivery tube.Moreover, the present invention includes a means which will prevent thepressure existing in the delivery tube from rising over atmosphericpressure.

Generally, the present invention provides an aerosol dispenser thatincludes a stem mount or cap. The cap includes bore means to guide thepropelled mixture therethrough. Detachably affixed to the cap is a sprayadapter orspray head that communicates with the bore means disposedthrough the cap. The spray adapter comprises a delivery tube that isconcentrically disposed around and partially covers a portion of anozzle extending thereinQAnother portion of the nozzle extendsrearwardly of thespray adapter along the central longitudinal axisthereof, and is in the form of a short tube. This rearward tubeprotrusion is designed to seat in andbe frictionally held by a channelin the aerosol cap. The channel is dimensioned to forcefittingly engagethe protruding tube and communicate with the capbore means so that thepropelled mixture will be guided into the nozzle. The nozzle portionextending within the delivery tube closes the other end thereof.

Thislast mentioned nozzle portion is likewise positioned along thedelivery tubes central longitudinal axis and ends in a nozzle orificespaced inwardly from the discharge opening thereof. Thus, the flow ofmedicaments through substantially the entire length of the delivery tubeis confined within the nozzle. This prevents an unwanted spray frontfrom diverging within the delivery tube that will act to depositmedicaments along the delivery tube walls. Since the nozzle orifice isspaced inwardly from the delivery tube opening by a small distance, theexiting aerosol travels only a short distance within the delivery tubereducing the tendency for the aerosol mixture to coalesce therein andform droplets. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment aperture meansare provided through the delivery tube wall which vent the delivery tubeinterior to the atmo sphere. 1

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anaerosol spray head that guides and confines the aerosol spray.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means forguiding an aerosol spray that prevents the spray-front from divergingwhile traversing through the apparatus and thereby prevent depositionalong the apparatus walls g It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide an aerosol spray guiding means that is adapted tofit within the ear canal and guide the aerosol mixture against thetimpanic membrane and yet prevents a pressure rise thereagainst greaterthan atmospheric.

It is a still further objectof the present invention to provide anaerosol spray apparatus that can be detachably removed from the aerosolcontainer and that is easily dismantled for cleaning and washing.

.Other objects and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood thatthe drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and notas a definition of the limits of the invention to which reference shouldbe made to the appending claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the presentinvention showing the cap adapted to seat on the aerosol valve stem andrevealing the nozzle position in the spray head;

FIG. 2 is a combined sectional view of the parts shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a shows a sectional view of an alternative arrangement of theapparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a pressurized container 10containing a liquid or powdered medicament (the medicament not shown)existing under pressure as common in the art. Secured to the top ofcontainer 10 is a flange 12 which may be pressfit, welded or otherwiseattached to container 10. Integrally formed with and extending fromflange 12 is a shoulder 14. It will be observed that shoulder 14 has aslight bell shape or bows outwardly as it extends from flange l2.Projecting through the center of shoulder 14 is a valve stem 16. Valvestem 16 is adapted to be depressed downwardly when looking at FIG- 2 andhas one end thereof not shown for purposes of simplicity,communicating'with the medicament under pressure by valve means commonin the art. Preferably, the

valve means will release a predetermined amount of medicament when valvestem 16 is depressed.

A cap 18 is force-fitted upon the upper end of valve stem 16. As shown,cap 18 includes bore means 20 disposed therethrough. In order for thecap to seat on valve stem 16 the cap contains an enlarged crosssectionalarea 22 that conforms to the outer periphery of stem 16.

Bore means 20 communicates with a chamber 24 and is substantiallycentrally located within cap 18. Disposed laterally from chamber 24 andcommunicating therewith is a bore 26. Preferably, bore 26 will beorthogonal to the longitudinal axis of bore 20. A conduit 28 isconcentric to and communicates with bore 26. The diameter of conduit 28is somewhat larger than the diameter of bore 26. Adjacent to, andconcentric with the opening of channel 28 is a recessed portion 30 incap 18. The lower portion of cap 18 further includes an integral skirt32. Skirt 32 is concentric around stem 16 and has its interior diameterdimensioned so that its inside periphery slidably engages the outsideperiphery of shoulder 14. The length of skirt 32 is such that when thecap is in its upward position (ready for a depressive stroke) it coversa portion of the top of shoulder 14 as seen in FIG. 2. On the otherhand, the length of skirt 32 will be such so as not to abut against thetop of flange 12 and thereby interfere with depression of stem 16.

The spray head of the present invention further consists of a tubularsection 34 that includes an open end 36. Disposed along the centrallongitudinal axis of tubular portion 34 so as to be concentrictherewith, is a nozzle apparatus seen generally as reference numeral 38.The forward portion of nozzle 38 will preferably comprise afrustro-conical section 40. Frusto-conical section 40 flares outwardlyinto an integrally formed annular collar 42. The positioning of annularcollar 42 is such so as to be coincident with the central longitudinalaxis of the conical portion 40. A protruding tube 44 of reducedcross-section extends rearwardly of annular flange 42. As with annularcollar 42, protruding tube 44 is concentric about the centrallongitudinal axis of frusto-conical portion 40. Disposed along andthrough the central longitudinal axis of nozzle 38 so as to beconcentric therewith, is a nozzle passage 46. Nozzle passage 46 runssubstantially the length of nozzle 38 and terminates at an opening 50 ofreduced diameter, that serves as a discharge orifice.

The entire nozzle apparatus 38 is positioned within tubular portion 34so that nozzle discharge orifice 50 is spaced inwardly from tube opening36. Preferably, the lateral rearward wall of discharge tube 34 thatconsists of annular collar 42 will be integral with the cylindrical wallof tube 34 so that the entire apparatus may be molded as one member.However, it will be understood that this does not necessarily have to bethe case and that nozzle apparatus 38 comprised of frustoconical portion40, annular collar 42 and protruding tube 44 may be supplied as adiscrete package, separate from delivery tube 34. As a discrete package,nozzle apparatus 38 may then be mounted within delivery tube 34 in anysuitable manner. Indeed, it may be possible to further vary theconstruction so as to form delivery tube 34 with integral annular collar42 and then insert therein frusto-conical portion 40 carrying onlyintegral protruding tube 44.

Positioned through the delivery tube walls is a pair of pressure reliefmeans 48 which comprises slots or apertures for venting the interior ofthe delivery tube to the atmosphere. It is to be understood that thenumber, size, and location of the pressure relief apertures are shownfor the purposes of illustration only. For example, the deliveryapertures might comprise a plurality of bores disposed through thecylindrical wall of delivery tube 34 adjacent annular collar 42. Or, asanother example, the exhausting apertures might be disposed throughannular collar 42. The only criterion for the location of the aperturesor slots is that they be spaced from discharge opening 36 so that wheninserted in the body canal, for example, the ear canal, they remainuncovered so as to vent the tube interior to the atmosphere as abovenoted.

The external or outside diameter of protruding tube 44 is dimensioned toprovide an interference or pressfit with the inside diameter of channel28. This interference fit insures that the force resulting from a blastof medicament through nozzle passage 46 will be insufficient to dislodgeprotrusion 44, and consequently nozzle apparatus 38 from channel 28.However, the interference fit readily yields to a pull by the user sothat the novel spray head can be broken down into cap 18 and deliverytube 34, the latter carrying nozzle assembly 38 as described above.

In operation, protruding tube 44 of nozzle apparatus 38 is inserted inreceiving channel 28. Protruding tube 44 is pushed into channel 28 so asto be snug therein. Recessed portion 30 ensures a space between cap 18and delivery tube 34. It can be seen that delivery tube 34 issubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of cap 18. Cap 18now carrying delivery apparatus 34 is superposed over stem 16. Skirt 32will then cover a portion of the top of shoulder 14. The delivery tubeis inserted in or against the appropriate body portion, the ear canalfor example, and cap 18 depressed. Depression of cap 18 likewisedepresses stem 16 whereby a measured charge of medicament will bepropelled through stem 16 into bore 20 and then into chamber 24. Theresulting pressure blast in chamber 24 will vent through bore 26 and bepropelled through nozzle passage 46 and then through nozzle orifice 50.The flow of medicament will exit nozzle orifice 50 and proceed a shortdistance within delivery tube 34 to exit discharge opening 36 andimpinge upon the timpanic membrane. With this construction,frusto-conical portion 40 confines the spray front of the medicamentdischarge while transversing within tubular portion 34. Nozzle orifice50 empties the aerosol blast adjacent yet rearward of opening 36 whereinthe spacing between these last two mentioned elements is such that theunconfined spray front travels a reduced distance when compared to priordevices that dump the pressurized flow adjacent rear cylinder wall 42.Thus, with the present construction the spray front is substantiallyconfined until it reaches the timpanic membrane. Since the spray frontis restrained from diverging within tubular portion 34, it will beunavailable to deposit of medicament along the inside surface ofdelivery or tubular portion 34.

In the event that the valve in flange 12 becomes stuck" or a wanteddischarge of medicament increases the pressure in the delivery tube,slots or apertures 48 act to vent this excess pressure to theatmosphere.

The inward spacing of the outlet orifice 50 from the end 34a of tube 34tends to prevent wax or serious discharge from collecting on andclogging orifice 50, as well as reducing the chilling impact of thespray and confining the spread of the spray emerging from orifice 50.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it is to be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made hereto without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. For example, FIG. 2a shows the cap 18 as havinga tubular projecting portion 50 defining a conduit 26, while projection44 of FIG. 2 is replaced by a hollow bore 51 for force fittinglyreceiving tubular projection 50. The operation of the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 2a is the same as that of FIG. 2.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container, a valve disposed in the container andincluding a valve stem communicating with the valve and projectingthrough the container for relative movement therein to operate thevalve, a cap having a bore means adapted to seat on the stem and becommunicative therewith, a directional spray head for insertion into anorifice and projecting from the cap and adapted to detachable seattherein, the spray head comprising a hollow delivery conduit having oneopen end, nozzle means disposed within the conduit, the nozzle meansextending within the interior of the conduit and having one endterminating in a discharge opening spaced inwardly from the conduit openend to prevent the nozzle from contacting the orifice and to prevent thespray from striking the interior wall of said spray head, the other endof the nozzle means flaring outwardly to merge with and close the otherend of the conduit, a projection extending outwardly from the conduitclosed end in a direction opposite the nozzle means, the protrusionadapted to detachably seat in a portion of the bore means, and aperturemeans disposed in the wall of the spray head and adjacent the rear endthereof so as to vent the interior thereof to the atmosphere whereby adepression of the cap will move the valve stem to cause the aerosol tobe propelled therethrough as the bore means guides the resulting aerosolflow into the nozzle means so that the last mentioned means will egressthe resulting aerosol near the conduit open end as the aperture meansvents any pressure rise in the spray head interior to the atmosphere.

2. Spray head apparatus for a container housing having material beingdispensed and having valve means for controlling the flow therethroughincluding in combination:

a cap having bore means disposed therethrough and adapted to be coupledto and communicate with said valve means;

a hollow delivery tube for insertion into an orifice and having twoopposed ends one of which is open, and

nozzle means comprising a hollow projection adapted to detachably seatin said cap and communicate with said bore means and an extending nozzlethat includes a discharge orifice, said extending nozzle being disposedin said tube so as to position the discharge orifice spaced from saidtube open end whereby a depression of said cap causes a spray of thedispensed mixture to traverse said bore and nozzle means and egressthrough the discharge orifice and said tube open end;

the exit opening of said nozzle being positioned inwardly from the openend of said delivery tube to prevent contact with the orifice, thespacing between said exit opening and the open end of said delivery tubebeing chosen to prevent the spray from striking the interior of thedelivery tube; said extending nozzle having a rearward portion adaptedto merge with said tube and close the other one of said opposed endsthereof; the rearward portion of said tube including aperture means tovent the interior of said tube to the atmosphere.

1. In combination, a container, a valve disposed in the container andincluding a valve stem communicating with the valve and projectingthrough the container for relative movement therein to operate thevalve, a cap having a bore means adapted to seat on the stem and becommunicative therewith, a directional spray head for insertion into anorifice and projecting from the cap and adapted to detachable seattherein, the spray head comprising a hollow delivery conduit having oneopen end, nozzle means disposed within the conduit, the nozzle meansextending within the interior of the conduit and having one endterminating in a discharge opening spaced inwardly from the conduit openend to prevent the nozzle from contacting the orifice and to prevent thespray from striking the interior wall of said spray head, the other endof the nozzle means flaring outwardly to merge with and close the otherend of the conduit, a projection extending outwardly from the conduitclosed end in a direction opposite the nozzle means, the protrusionadapted to detachably seat in a portion of the bore means, and aperturemeans disposed in the wall of the spray head and adjacent the rear endthereof so as to vent the interior thereof to the atmosphere whereby adepression of the cap will move the valve stem to cause the aerosol tobe propelled therethrough as the bore means guides the resulting aerosolflow into the nozzle means so that the last mentioned means will egressthe resulting aerosol near the conduit open end as the aperture meansvents any pressure rise in the spray head interior to the atmosphere. 2.Spray head apparatus for a container housing having material beingdispensed and having valve means for controlling the flow therethroughincluding in combination: a cap having bore means disposed therethroughand adapted to be coupled to and communicate with said valve means; ahollow delivery tube for insertion into an orifice and having twoopposed ends one of which is open, and nozzle means comprising a hollowprojection adapted to detachably seat in said cap and communicate withsaid bore means and an extending nozzle that includes a dischargeorifice, said extending nozzle being disposed in said tube so as toposition the discharge orifice spaced from said tube open end whereby adepression of said cap causes a spray of the dispensed mixture totraverse said bore and nozzle means and egress through the dischargeorifice and said tube open end; the exit opening of said nozzle beingpositioned inwardly from the open end of said delivery tube to preventcontact with the orifice, the spacing between said exit opening and theopen end of said delivery tube being chosen to prevent the spray fromstriking the interior of the delivery tube; said extending nozzle havinga rearward portion adapted to merge with said tube and close the otherone of said opposed ends thereof; the rearward portion of said tubeincluding aperture means to vent the interior of said tube to theatmosphere.